Sleep apnea decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining supplemental opinions from VA medical professionals to address whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or knee disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity does not qualify for service connection as it is not a recognized disability. The issues of service connection for residuals of broken jaw with loss of tooth, diabetes, and sleep disorder (OSA and insomnia) are remanded due to lack of recent medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinion regarding the onset of sleep apnea during service. The Veteran's lay statements and testimony are considered, but a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for asthma and sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to jet fuels is conceded, but an addendum opinion is needed to address whether his current asthma is related to this exposure. An addendum opinion on the aggravation of sleep apnea by asthma is also required.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee conditions, as well as an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. GERD, sleep apnea, and breathing disorder were not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to obesity due to service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and for deep vein thrombosis, lower extremity. The appeals are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and radiculopathy, right lower extremity, as they are related to service-connected conditions. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The appeals for service connection and rating for sleep apnea, PTSD, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for muscle pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection was established for obstructive sleep apnea as a direct result of service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The issue of TDIU remains pending due to the remand for a VA Form 21-8940 submission.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's PTSD is alleged to have caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's OSA, ED, and hypertension are found to be proximately due to his service-connected DM with resolved thrombosis residuals.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development and lack of substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral ankle disabilities are being reviewed again for proper etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and review of new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder. The case will be remanded for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for obesity, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, intertrigo, and migraine headaches due to new evidence received since the final July 1971 rating decision. The RO is instructed to obtain medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as it is not related to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right ingrown toenail is granted a 10 percent rating. The service connection for his back disability, including lumbar spondylosis, lumbosacral strain, and degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease, is denied.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is related to service and granted. However, the Board denied secondary service connection for sleep apnea as it was not a service-connected condition at that time.